A3C 2012 Looks To Change All The Rules

Ed. Note: As media sponsors for A3C for the second year in a row, our coverage of the event will expand on all the fun and misadventures we got into last year. For recaps of our three days in Atlanta covering the festival, see day one, day two & day three. Here is our festival foreward, written by Brando.

There’s a sense of a family unit that the All Three Coasts (A3C) Festival offers. It’s near the end of festival season, it’s headquarters position itself square in the middle of downtown Atlanta and spreads out to its proving grounds, Masquerade which works like an old Southern castle with split performance rooms, sprawling land for slightly extravagant set ups and the down home reality that may not be found at Rock The Bells or SXSW.

Now in its eighth incarnation, A3C has now expanded into being an all hip-hop, all region showcase where tech suites and conversation can collide in between wall-to-wall rap performances. You’ll find the political dope boy tones of Killer Mike mesh in with the likes of Miami’s Gunplay & Harlem’s Vado and not feel foreign to the concept. There are film festivals this year, a direction inspired somewhat by the king of festivals in South By Southwest but reigned in for more of a tight feel. A3C founder Brian Knott, recently profiled by Atlanta’s Creative Loafing, discussed the growth of the festival, “We started out as an underground event because those are the people we knew and could reach. As the event has expanded it has been less about underground and more about trying to go as broad as we can.”

As most board planes, gas up cars or if they’re local ATLiens prepare to walk down the street, there’s one common focus. The three day weekend, while said to be an enjoyment and sort of “reunion” like atmosphere is also a benchmark for where things may have gone in the year since. Free rides to and from the festival and its multiple launching points courtesy of UBER and all around good times. That’s what you can expect to see at A3C, the camaraderie between artists, panelists, writers, fans and more all wanting the same thing – growth.

For all the events going on in Atlanta this weekend, check the official A3C website. Down below, you can see the shows we’re looking forward to the most on day one.

THURSDAY

Straight Outta Texas (f. Killa Kyleon, Doughbeezy, The League Of Extraordinary Gz, Roosh Williams, A.Dd+, Dex Owusu, Lil Keke & UZOY)
– Home team bias of course. The League probably celebrated their biggest achievement festival wise last year at A3C only to face tragedy days later. It marks a year since that moment and this time they’ve only gotten stronger. Killa Kyleon, who held a set down on the DJ Booth set in 2011 is the headliner this year while his first Kickback co-sign Doughbeezy & Dallas’ sterling group A.Dd+ continue to make their imprints with new material to unleash. – 10:30 PM/Jakkprints Stage

BET Music Matters (f. Big Boi, Kirko Bangz, Phil Ade, Rapsody, Skyzoo, Kris Kassanova, The Kid Daytona)
– When you think Atlanta hip-hop, you immediately think Dungeon Family. With a new album on the way with Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors, Daddy Fat Sacks headlining a show is only icing on the A3C cake. Not to mention watching the emergence of Kirko Bangz as a serious national player, Rapsody parlay her newfound fame from The Idea Of Beautiful, Skyzoo press on with A Dream Deferred and watching Phil Ade rock for the second time in less than a month. – 7:00 PM/Terminal West

iStandard Producer Showcase (f. Focus…., !llmind, The Olympkicks, Koncept, S1, Needlz)
– iStandard has been bringing the goods with producer matchups for quite sometime now. The big cousin of the Space City Beat Battle in Houston brings two former SCBB guest judges in S1 & !llmind for its producer showcase which no doubt will bring all beatsmiths in for a little exercise and gym work on the boards. – 7:00 PM/Guitar Center Stage

Perfect Attendance (f. King Chip, CyHi The Prynce, Shawn Chrystopher, Neako & more)
– Returning to Little 5 Points where it all started, Perfect Attendance once more makes its presence at A3C as one of the defacto, must see stages. Considering its now inside of its own venue, it may bring even more fans to the premises of The Five Spot with acts such as King Chip, CyHi The Prynce, Shawn Chrys & more performing on just day one. – 6:00 PM/Five Spot

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About The Author

Brandon Caldwell is the founder & editor-in-chief of Day & A Dream. His work has appeared in VIBE, UPROXX, Complex, EBONY, the Village Voice, the Houston Press, Houston Style Magazine, DJBooth, The Sports Fans Journal, and more. Follow him on Twitter: @_brandoc